a churchwide discussion of our worship life research in how we worship today strategies for worship

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a church-wide discussion of our worship
liferesearch in how we worship
todaystrategies for worship resources
leadership to complement Book of Worship

• SYNOD XXIV CALLED FOR

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• Countryside Community Church, UCC, Omaha NE

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• O, God.
• where are you in these findings?
• what is the good news?
• what is curious or disturbing?
• what are you calling us to?

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We heard from you.

• 12,440 responses
• from 2,246 churches
• 38 percent of all congregations
• surveys, focus groups, online surveys
• Resource packet research

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Christ Congregational Church, UCC, Silver Spring,
Maryland

• What is worship?

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• 90 percent of clergy70 percent of laity
• an encounter with God
• so we might be transformed
• to do Gods work in the world.

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What is Worship?
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• Marks of UCC Worship
• 35 percent laity, 49 percent clergy
• Inclusive/Open/Welcoming
• 12 percent laity, 21 percent clergy
• Diversity/Diverse worship styles

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Marks of UCC Worship
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Descriptions of Worship
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Whats happening in worship in the United Church
of Christ?

• Wellesley Hills Congregational Church UCC,
  Wellesley MA

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Number of Regularly Scheduled Services
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Clergy Use of Revised Common Lectionary
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The Use of the Lectionary

• Lectionary always used in worship and lectionary
  curriculum used in church school
• Lectionary mostly used in worship and lectionary
  curriculum used in church school
• Lectionary used mostly, but not in church school
• Lectionary used only occasionally or never

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Worship Elements

• Always or almost always included
• Prelude
• Call to Worship
• Invocation
• Time with Children
• Prayer of Our Savior/Lords Prayer
• Pastoral Prayer
• Joys and Concerns
• Bible Reading
• Sermon
• Announcements
• Offertory/Offering/Prayer of Dedication/Doxology
• Benediction
• Postlude

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Worship Elements

• Sometimes included
• Processional
• Confession and Words of Assurance
• Statement of Faith
• Creed
• Passing the Peace
• Time of Greeting
• Responsive or Sung Psalm
• Other Responsive Liturgy
• Prayer Concerns, written or oral
• Silent Prayer
• Prayer of Thanksgiving

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Worship Elements

• Less frequently or never included
• Collect
• Items from Calendar of Prayer
• Congregation Stands for Bible Reading
• Readings from Contemporary Texts
• Drama
• Video Clips
• Testimony
• Altar Call
• Mission or Stewardship Moment

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Ebenezer United Church of Christ, Burlington NC
What about the words we use in worship?
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Description of Language Used Regularly
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Importance of Inclusive Language
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Justice Issues in Worship

• Worship is powerful place connecting to world,
  inclusive language is important, reference to
  justice issues in worship, holidays, theology of
  sacraments has some justice emphasis
• Some ratings or references are high, others are
  moderate
• Only occasional justice content
• Little or no reference to justice issues, worship
  is quiet place away from the world

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Differences in Justice Issues
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What about worship styles?

• Saint Matthew United Church of Christ, Wheaton IL

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• 60 percent congregations
• Traditional and primarily traditional
• in primary worship service
• 11 percent in primary,
• 30 percent in additional
• Contemporary and primarily contemporary

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How Congregations Address Different Worship
Styles
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What about special or occasional worship
services?

• First Congregational Church UCC, Boulder CO

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Special Church Services
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Other Clergy Led Services
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• Who and how are people involved in worship?

Saint Lukes United Church of Christ,
Philadelphia PA
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What Laity Are Involved in Worship?
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How Are Laity Involved in Worship?
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Churches Engaging Children Youth

• Children youth help lead worship and partake in
  Holy Communion. Includes child-friendly language
  and sermon content, special children or youth
  Sundays
• Children and youth are involved, but at lower
  level.
• Children and youth are involved through the
  childrens sermon or on a special children or
  youth Sunday.
• Children and youth are only in church school.
• Includes no children and youth.

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Involvement of Children and Youth
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Description of ServicesWith Younger Worshipers
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What about music?
Malmalama Congregation Church UCC, Long Beach CA
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Musical Instruments Used
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Types of Music Used
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Arts in Sanctuary
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What about the sacraments?

• Brookings United Church of Christ, Brookings SD

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What Is Baptism?
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• What about the words used at Baptism?
• Book of Worship for Baptism
• 92 percent often or occasionally,
• more than for any other rite.

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Use of Book of Worship in Planning
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• 62 percent of congregations
• in the name of the Father, Son, and
• Holy Spirit
• 36 percent
• Other words as
• in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One
  God, Mother of us All.

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What is Holy Communion?
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Frequency of Holy Communion
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Who Should Receive Holy Communion?
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• Also we
• reflected on our worship practice
• tried others liturgies
• tried new liturgies and music

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Central Christian Church, UCC, Hilo HI
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• Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago IL

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• Sulphur Springs United Church of Christ, Sulphur
  Springs IN

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• Belmond Congregational United Church of Christ,
  Belmond IA

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The Risen Lord by He Qi
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Resource Needs
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New Liturgy Needs
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Music Needs
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Ways to Provide Training
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• Having listened to the church. . . .
• Strategies for
• Worshiping into Gods Future

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• Primary Strategy
• Continue prayerful conversations
• about our worship and sacramental life
• through
• resources and leadership development

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• With grateful hearts,
• awaiting more light and truth,
• open to Gods future,
• we worship the Living God!

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